Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Auto lending is at "the highest level since the first quarter of 2009" according to a WSJ article I recently read. Apparently, per the article, when people's budgets get tight, they'll forego paying their mortgages before they forego making their car payments because it's relatively easy for the banks or other financial institution to re-possess a car. (It's obviously significantly more difficult to foreclose on a home, even if you live in a non-judicial foreclosure state like Georgia.)

So if you are in the market for some company cars, now is a good time to go for it. Or, if you wish to offer employees an additional benefit, consider helping them to finance a new or used car. Or, if you have a tiny business and just need a few thousand in funds, assuming your vehicle is paid off, you can re-finance your car and pull funds out.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

One sign of growth in construction markets - and overall - is a crane. Yes, a crane. A huge, multi-story construction crane. I remember reading a couple/ a few years ago that the majority of the world's cranes were located in China due to the rapid pace of growth and the ensuing construction there. This crane is located near downtown Raleigh. It is being used on an apartment complex. Two blocks away a new Hampton Inn is under construction. Raleigh, NC is growing. These are the signs to look for as signals to what's going on. You can read the negative business press or you can hone your powers of observation to identify windows and opportunities for your business. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I just read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the rise in acceptance of business start-ups by large corporations. According to the article, large corporations such as Vanguard Health Systems are broadening their base of technology companies beyond the Microsofts, Ciscos, and Oracles of the world (i.e., other large corporations). More are relying on the quickness, nimbleness, and flexibility of smaller companies.

The article states that CIOs, the perennial technology decision makers, are the ones leading the charge. This bodes extremely well for tech and related startups. If you have a tech company and want to make inroads into a large corporation, pursue the CIO. Stay away from the IT Director and others. Go straight for the top. Even go for the CFO. Think big and it will pay off.

Monday, August 27, 2012

According to an American Express Open Forum article... "Nearly all of the businesses surveyed own some sort of property, and the assets’ declining values cut small business’s clout with creditors. Lots of entrepreneurs have used their company’s or their own personal property to fund their businesses." excerpted fromThe Real Reason Small Businesses Struggle to Get Credit by Courtney Rubin.

Interesting excerpt. This excerpt references the value of business owners' homes and business offices. But I've been reading that, in many locations, home values are ticking slightly upward (due to the lower number of houses on the market for sale). Just keep in mind that, due to the amount of collateral required for the typical small business loan or line of credit, the real estate market - residential and commercial - will impact most of the bank loans your small business would be eligible for.